Apparatus for stretching the spine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for stretching and massaging the spinal column of a human being comprises a chair with a backrest and leg support, with the backrest enclosing a small obtuse angle with the seat, the leg support being parallel to the backrest, and two rows of vibrators arranged closely spaced along the entire length of the backrest in the center thereof.

United States Patent 1191 Lang 1451 Sept. 17, 1974 l APPARATUS FORSTRETCHING THE SPINE [75] Inventor: Friedrich Lang, Landau/Pfalz,

Germany [73] Assignee: Lang Weyland GmbH,

Landau/Pfalz, Germany 22 Filed: Apr. 6, 1973 211 App]. No.2 348,490

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 29, 1972 Germany 2226073 Oct.24, 1972 Germany 2252095 [52] US. Cl 128/33, 128/57, 128/71 [51] Int. ClA6lh 1/00 [58] Field of Search 128/71, 33, 41, 24.2, 57

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,164,356 12/1915 Kaiser128/33 1,276,526 8/1918 Hardy et 111. 128/33 1,529,872 3/1925 Craig128/33 3,113,567 12/1963 RUSSCll.... 128/33 3,446,204 5/1969 Murphy128/33 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or FirmKurtKelman [5 7 ABSTRACT An apparatus for stretching and massaging thespinal column of a human being comprises a chair with a backrest and legsupport, with the backrest enclosing a small obtuse angle with the seat,the leg support being parallel to the backrest, and two rows ofvibrators arranged closely spaced along the entire length of thebackrest in the center thereof.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDSEPITIQH 3%5344 SHEET 1 or 4 FIG. 4

APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING THE SPINE The present invention relates to anapparatus for stretching and simultaneously massaging the spine of ahuman being.

Age, accidents, inflammations and other causes produce changes in thespinal columns of human beings, including damage to the discs, which mayresult in muscle spasms creating pressures on the nerves. Theseconditions involve backaches of various severities, and one course oftreatment consists of stretching the spine and/or massaging the same.

It has been proposed, for instance, to subject the spinal column to astretch by applying a Glisson sling to the neck of a standing person, orby applying a stretching force to the feet. However, not everyone cantolerate this painful treatment. It has also been proposed to applyweights to the patient lying prone. Manual vibrators have also been usedto massage the back, and particularly the the spine. The variousstretching methods heretofore used involve risks of causing furtherdamage to the spine and particularly to the positioning of the discs inthe spinal column.

It is the primary object of this invention to overcome thesedisadvantages and to provide an apparatus assuring effective and safestretching of the spine while subjecting it to a massage.

The above and other objects are accomplished in accordance with theinvention with a chair-like support frame which includes a seat, abackrest enclosing a small obtuse angle with the seat, an adjustable legsupport extending substantially parallel to the backrest, and two rowsof vibrators arranged along the entire length of the backrest in thecenter thereof for contact with the spine of a person sitting on theseat, the vibrators being closely spaced.

Such an apparatus has the advantage of combining two different types ofphysical therapy in a most favorable manner. The stretching treatmentloosens the vertebrae and thus widens the gaps therebetween to permitthe massage treatment to have its most beneficial effect on the patient.

Since the patient is in a sitting position during this treatment, thebody is bent at the hip so that the spinal column is in a stretchedcondition. This causes the faces of the vertebrae to be parallel to eachother so that the double treatment will tend to re-position the discsproperly in the gaps between the faces. By changing the angle of thebackrest in respect of the seat, as well as that of the leg support, thedegree of stretching can be properly dosed. Control of the vibratorsalso makes it possible to dose the force and time of the massage. Thistreatment makes it possible gently to reposition slipped discs and toalleviate a variety of physical dislocations causing backaches.

The indicated effects will be further enhanced by combining heat withthe two types of physical treatments since the stretching and massagewill have even more beneficial results while the body is warmed.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of a now preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a front view of achair-like support frame according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the frame;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section along lines AA of FIG. 1, on an enlargedscale; and

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the electrical control circuit useful forthe operation of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1 to 3, the apparatus isshown to comprise a chair-like support frame including seat 1, backrest2 enclosing a small obtuse angle with the seat, and a leg support 3extending substantially parallel to the backrest. The frame is mountedon pedestal 25 by means of horizontal pivoting axle 4 about which theframe may be pivoted, the axle being positioned at the rear of the seat.

A foot support 5 is vertically adjustably mounted on leg support 3 sothat the feet of the patient may rest thereon, the adjustment of thefoot support compensating for patients of different height.

A seating support element 30 constituting the actual seat for thepatient is pivotally mounted on seat 1 by means of a pivoting axle 31 inthe rear portion of the seat to permit pivoting of the seating supportelement in the direction of arrow 35 (FIG. 2) by means of a manuallyoperable spindle drive 32. The pivoting axle is adjustably spaced fromthe backrest, as indicated by double-headed arrow 36, so that thespacing between the seating support element and the backrest may bevaried. This adjustability makes the apparatus adaptable to persons ofdifferent body dimensions to assure proper parallel positioning of thevertebrae faces.

Two straight vertical rows 6 and 7 of vibrators 8 are arranged along theentire length of the backrest 2 in the center thereof, the vibrators ineach row being closely spaced and the two rows being closely spaced,adjacent vibrators in the two rows being horizontally aligned and thetwo rows being symmetrically arranged in respect of the center line ofthe backrest. A casing 34 is mounted in the back of the backrest 2 andencloses operating parts of the vibrators 8. A source of heat 34 ismounted in the chamber 33 defined by the casing. This source of heat maybe an electric resistance heater, an infrared heater or a warm airblower. It will be useful to divide the heat source into separatesegments to coordinate the heat treatment with respective groups ofvibrators during the treatment to be described hereinafter.

The illustrated vibrators comprise vibrating balls 9 removably mountedso that balls of different sizes may be used for different patients.

It is particularly useful to mount rows of horizontally extendingsupport rollers 10 laterally of the rows of vibrators on the backrest.As shown in FIG. 3, the rollers are preferably forwardly inclined so asto provide full support for the back of the patient. These rollers havethe advantage of eliminating any gliding resistance of the back and thusto help the optimal and even stretching of the spinal column by theweight of the body resting against an inclined plane, i.e., under thebest physiological conditions.

As best shown in FIG. 3, spring-biased levers 11 are pivotally mountedon backrest 2 for pivoting backwardly (see broken lines in FIG. 3) outof the plane of the backrest and yieldingly carrying the vibrators 8with their balls 9. The levers are mounted on pivoting axles l2laterally adjacent each of the rows 6, 7 of the vibrators. Arms 14extend backwardly from the pivoting axles, and tension springs 15interconnect the free ends of horizontally aligned pairs of the leverarms. In

this manner, when a persons back rests against the backrest and vibratorballs, the pressure will pivot the balls backwardly into the positionshown in broken lines in FIG. 3. This yielding arrangement of thevibrators assures an even pressure of all vibrators against the spinalcolumn and their adaptation to its shape. The ball shape of thevibrators will conform closely to the treated portion of the body,particularly since these balls may be replaced according torequirements.

Forward movement of the yieldingly mounted vibrators is restrained bythe angle irons 16 which also mount rollers 10.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram of a control circuit for operatingselected ones of vibrators 8, the circuit being energized by main switch17 to supply electrical power to the circuit.

The vibrators 8 comprise oscillating solenoids which are energized bythrowing switch 17. A circuit element 18, which may be an impulsegenerator and a time relay, is mounted in the circuit to adjust theamplitude and duration of the vibratory pulses. Furthermore, selectormeans 19, 20 is also mounted in the circuit for operating only selectedones of the vibrators. Furthermore, a timer 21 may be arranged betweenswitch 17 and circuit element 18 to determine the time of operation.

The selector means may comprise a stepping switch or mechanism, a timingmechanism and a pre-set counting mechanism to operate the vibrators in aset sequence. The preferred operation provides for the simultaneousvibration of four adjacent vibrators in the two rows at any one time.Groups of four adjacent vibrators are operated successively in an upwarddirection while the four adjacent vibrators immediately below thesuccessively operated groups of vibrators are tie-activated in thestepwise operation of the vibrators by the cooperation of the stepping,timing and counting mechanisms. Thus, as indicated in FlG. 1, a group offour vibrators 8, 8" is operated at one time for a given period of time,whereupon vibrators 8 are switched off and the two upwardly adjacentvibrators 8" are switched on to work with vibrators 8" in the next groupof four. Thus, a vibration wave progressing upwardly along the spinalcolumn is produced. Furthermore, the selector makes it possible todetermine the end and the beginning of the wave of vibrations appliedagainst the stretched spinal column. The force of the vibrations may beadjusted by potentiometer 22 mounted in the circuit between selector 19,20 and the vibrator 8.

An electromotor 24 connected to pivoting axle 4 by gearing 23 isprovided for pivoting the chair-like support frame on its pedestal 25.The electrical control circuit energized by main switch 24 includes abranch line connected to motor 24, wherein there are arranged switches26 and 27 for pivoting the frame up or down. An emergency switch 28 inthe branch circuit pivots the frame back into its normal or restposition, this switch also being connected to timer 21 to switch offoperation of the vibrators. Furthermore, switch 29 in the branch circuitautomatically terminates the operation of the vibrators 8 and pivots theframe into its rest position after the set time for the entire treatmenthas expired. It will be useful to mount all the control switches on acommon control panel.

It is possible to effectuate stretching of the spinal column in the neckby mounting a Glisson sling at the upper end of the backrest to hold thehead of the pa tient in fixed position and thus to effectuate stretchingunder the weight of the body. The sling is mounted on an adjustablebracket and the head is fixed in position when the chairlike supportframe has been pivoted back. After the head had been fixed, the frame isslowly pivoted forward so as to initiate the stretching treatment at theneck. Afterwards, the vibrators are actuated to start the massage. Therelative position of the backrest and leg support may adjusted bypivotal connections between the seat and the backrest and leg support toenhance the stretching operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for stretching the spine of a human being, comprising achair-like support frame pivotal about a horizontal axis andincluding 1. a seat,

2. a backrest enclosing a small obtuse angle with the seat,

3. an adjustable leg support extending substantially parallel to thebackrest,

4. two rows of vibrators arranged along the entire length of thebackrest in the center thereof, the vibrators being closely spaced; and

5. rows of horizontally extending support rollers mounted on thebackrest laterally of the vibrators.

2. The apparatus of claims 1, further comprising a casing mounted in theback of the backrest and enclosing portions of the vibrators extendingthereinto, and a source of heat arranged in the casing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seat comprises a seatingsupport element, and a pivoting axle adjustably spaced from the backrestand pivotally mounting the seating support element on the seat.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising spring-biased leverspivotally mounted on the backrest for pivoting backwardly out of theplane of the backrest and yieldingly carrying the vibrators.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising pivoting axles mountedon the backrest laterally of each of the rows of the vibrators forpivoting the levers, arms extending backwardly from the pivoting axles,and tension springs interconnecting the free ends of horizontallyaligned pairs of the lever arms.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibrators comprise removablemounted balls.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibrators comprise oscillatingsolenoids.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vertically adjustablefoot support mounted on the leg support.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical controlcircuit for operating selected ones of the vibrators, the circuitincluding a main switch for energizing the circuit, a circuit element inthe circuit for adjusting the duration of the vibratory pulses, and aselector means for operating the selected vibrators.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the selector means comprises astepping mechanism, a timing mechanism and a preset counting mechanismcooperating to operate simultaneously four adjacent ones of thevibrators in the two rows, groups of four adjacent vibrators beingoperated successively in an upward direction while the four adjacentvibrators immediately below the successively operated groups ofvibrators are de-activated in the stepwise operation of the vibrators.

the main switch to the motor for operating the same.

1. An apparatus for stretching the spine of a human being, comprising achair-like support frame pivotal about a horizontal axis andincluding
 1. a seat,
 2. a backrest enclosing a small obtuse angle withthe seat,
 3. an adjustable leg support extending substantially parallelto the backrest,
 4. two rows of vibrators arranged along the entirelength of the backrest in the center thereof, the vibrators beingclosely spaced; and
 5. rows of horizontally extending support rollersmounted on the backrest laterally of the vibrators.
 2. a backrestenclosing a small obtuse angle with the seat,
 2. The apparatus of claims1, further comprising a casing mounted in the back of the backrest andenclosing portions of the vibrators extending thereinto, and a source ofheat arranged in the casing.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theseat comprises a seating support element, and a pivoting axle adjustablyspaced from the backrest and pivotally mounting the seating supportelement on the seat.
 3. an adjustable leg support extendingsubstantially parallel to the backrest,
 4. two rows of vibratorsarranged along the entire length of the backrest in the center thereof,the vibrators being closely spaced; and
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising spring-biased levers pivotally mounted on thebackrest for pivoting backwardly out of the plane of the backrest andyieldingly carrying the vibrators.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, furthercomprising pivoting axles mounted on the backrest laterally of each ofthe rows of the vibrators for pivoting the levers, arms extendingbackwardly from the pivoting axles, and tension springs interconnectingthe free ends of horizontally aligned pairs of the lever arms.
 5. rowsof horizontally extending support rollers mounted on the backrestlaterally of the vibrators.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thevibrators comprise removable mounted balls.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the vibrators comprise oscillating solenoids.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a vertically adjustable foot supportmounted on the leg support.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising an electrical control circuit for operating selected ones ofthe vibrators, the circuit including a main switch for energizing thecircuit, a circuit element in the circuit for adjusting the duration ofthe vibratory pulses, and a selector means for operating the selectedvibrators.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the selector meanscomprises a stepping mechanism, a timing mechanism and a pre-setcounting mechanism cooperating to operate simultaneously four adjacentones of the vibrators in the two rows, groups of four adjacent vibratorsbeing operated successively in an upward direction while the fouradjacent vibrators immediately below the successively operated groups ofvibrators are de-activated in the stepwise operation of the vibrators.11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a motor for pivotingthe chair-like support frame about the horizontal axis, and an electriccircuit connecting the main switch to the motor for operating the same.